What to expect before you join a session

If you’re here, you might be wondering a few things.

What actually happens in an Echelle session?
Will I have to speak straight away?
Is this more like training, coaching, therapy… or something else entirely?
And most importantly, will this really be useful for where I am right now?

These are very normal questions.

Echelle uses a structured peer mentoring approach inspired by professional co-development. It is designed for people who already carry responsibility, make decisions, and think a lot, often on their own.

What peer mentoring means at Echelle

At Echelle, peer mentoring is based on a simple idea:
the group itself is the main resource.

Everyone brings experience, perspective, doubts, clarity, and questions. Over time, everyone benefits not only from their own sessions, but from listening to and contributing to others.

There is no expert in the room giving answers.
There is no pressure to perform or impress.
There is structure, safety, and space to think.

Before we start: the check in

Each session begins with a short round table check in, sometimes called the météo.

This is not a deep personal share and it is not a performance.
It is simply a way to arrive.

You might share:

• how you are feeling as you come into the session

• where your energy is today

• what is taking up space in your head

Why do we do this?

Because being seen, even briefly, changes how we work together.

Once everyone has spoken, we move into the core of the session.

The heart of an Echelle session

Each two hour session focuses on one real situation brought by one group member.

Over the life of the group, everyone will have the chance to be in that role.

The session follows a clear structure, which helps things feel contained, safe, and useful.

1. Presenting the situation

One person presents a real professional situation.
Something they are navigating right now.
A decision, a question, a challenge, or something that feels stuck.

The rest of the group listens.
No interruptions. No advice yet.

This is your moment to really be listened to, without being fixed!

2. Clarifying the context

The group then asks factual, neutral questions.

Not to analyse the person, but to understand the situation.
What is happening?
What is known?
What is assumed?

This stage slows things down and helps separate facts from interpretation.

Often, clarity for the "client" already starts here.

3. Defining the request

The person presenting then clarifies what they want from the group.

Not everything at once.
Not a life solution.

But something precise, such as:

• gaining perspective

• exploring options

• testing assumptions

• thinking through next steps

This shared understanding helps the rest of the session stay focused and useful.

4. Collective exploration

This is where the group really comes into play.

The others share:

• reflections

• experiences

• perspectives

• ideas grounded in what they have lived themselves

There is no obligation to take anything on board.
The person presenting listens, notes what resonates, and may ask for clarification.

As facilitator, my role is to hold the structure, the timing, and the quality of the exchange, without steering the content.

5. Making sense and identifying actions

The person presenting then steps back and synthesises.

What stood out?
What feels relevant now?
What feels like a next step, even a small one?

The group may help refine or prioritise, but ownership stays with the person concerned.

This is about movement and preparing next steps, not about having a ready made solution.

6. Closing and shared learning

We close with a short round.

Each person shares what they are taking away.
Sometimes it is linked to the situation discussed.
Sometimes it is something entirely different.

This is where you often realise that even when you are not the focus, you are still learning.

Why this way of working matters

Peer mentoring at Echelle works because:

• you are not alone with complex questions

• experience is valued over theory

• you learn from multiple perspectives, not just one

• the structure creates safety without rigidity

• reflection leads to concrete action

Many people arrive thinking they are coming to help others.
They often leave realising how much they gained themselves!

The spirit of Echelle

Echelle sessions are professional, but human.
Structured, but not rigid.
Reflective, but grounded, where everyone's reality is true.

You do not need to have everything figured out.
You do not need the right words.
You just need to show up willing to listen, think, and engage.

If you are curious, have questions, or want to explore whether an Echelle group is right for you, feel free to get in touch.

Best wishes,

Leila and Ines